Notifying Users of Interactive Functions

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for notifying a user of an interactive event using a remote control device. In one embodiment, a remote control device contains either a display or a bright light, or both, which can create a visual alert to let a user know that an interactive function is available. The nature of the function may be displayed on a screen attached to the remote control device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.09/875,707, filed Jun. 5, 2001, entitled “Method and Apparatus forNotifying Users of Interactive Functions Using a Remote Device,” whichclaims the benefit of the filing date from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/215,681 filed Jun. 30, 2000, entitled “RemoteControl of TV Program Scheduling.” Applicant also claims priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/218,022, which was filedon Jul. 12, 2000, entitled “Novel Methods of Notifying Users of TVProgram Services and Interactivity,” and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/218,015, which was filed on Jul. 12, 2000,entitled “Remote Control of TV Program Scheduling. The contents of theabove applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of interactive programming. Morespecifically, the invention relates to providing a better interface forinteractive programs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) displays information aboutprograms a viewer is currently watching as well as information aboutother programs on different channels or at different times. The firstEPGs were typically displayed on one channel of a cable televisionsystem. These early EPGs were simple, displaying short programdescriptions and scrolling past the screen at a predetermined rate.Also, these EPGs typically did not allow for user interaction. Morerecent digital EPGs allow for the user to interact with the programmingschedule, and to view programs while scanning the guide. However,digital EPGs still typically rely on the television as a means ofshowing the EPG.

Currently, EPGs are displayed only on the primary video display,typically a television, itself. This is because a television is usuallythe most expensive component in a home entertainment system, and furtherbecause until recently a television was the only display device in manyhomes. As a result, the television is used to show both the programsthemselves as well as the EPG.

Typically, an EPG will be displayed in one of two ways. It will eitherbe displayed using the full television screen, completely preempting theprogramming selection, or the EPG may occupy only a portion of thescreen as an overlay, the rest of the screen used to display the currentprogram. Where an EPG only occupies a portion of the screen, however, itmay be difficult to read because of the small size of the text, or maynot provide much information about the current selection or otherprograms. Additionally, the main program is interrupted by the overlay.

This method of displaying programming information can have several otherdisadvantages as well. When there are several viewers, if one decides toview the EPG, all other viewers must wait until the one using the EPG isfinished. This interruption may be quite inconvenient for the otherviewers.

Current interactive television systems, such as Wink™, WebTV™, or MSTV™create interactive applications that a television viewer may use whilethey are watching television. Once the application becomes active, theinteractive television system must alert the user that there is aninteractive function available. Previous systems have either displayed alogo or a window on the television screen itself. This can be disruptiveto all viewers as it interrupts the programming.

What is needed is a way to alert a user to the availability ofinteractive television without disrupting other viewers by displayingthe alert on the screen itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for an interactivetelevision system that provides interactive functions, and alerts a userof those interactive functions. In one embodiment, a remote controldevice contains either a display or a bright light, or both, which cancreate a visual alert to let a user know that an interactive function isavailable. The nature of the function may be displayed on a screenattached to the remote control device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an entertainment system with an electronicprogramming guide displayed on a remote computing device;

FIG. 2 illustrates an entertainment system with an electronicprogramming guide displayed on a wireless computing device;

FIG. 3 illustrates an entertainment system coupled with a number ofwireless computing devices; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a device for indicating that interactive services areavailable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment provides a method and apparatus for alerting a user of aninteractive function using a remote device. In the followingdescription, for purposes of explanation, specific details are set forthto provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However,it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specificdetails are not required in order to practice the present invention.

An EPG allows a user to perform a range of functions that may be usefulwhen watching television. Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/488,361, filed Jan. 16, 2000, describes in more detail thefunctions of an EPG and is hereby incorporated by reference.

The main function of an EPG is to allow a user to view program listingssorted by channel and time. Newer EPGs allow a user to browse throughthe listings, and to get detailed information about specific programs.EPGs may also allow a user to select certain channels or programs inwhich the user is particularly interested. Additionally, an EPG maycontrol a recording device, and start recording when programs selectedby the user are shown.

The typical television viewer now has many devices that have displayscreens, such as PCs, PDAs, web phones, etc., in addition to theirtelevision. Current EPGs are displayed on the television screen itself.This can lead to problems when there is more than one viewer, becauseviewers other than the one operating the EPG may not wish to view theEPG. Problems may also arise when the EPG attempts to display both theguide and a television program at the same time, because either the textmay be too small or there may be too little information displayed. Newdisplay devices, such as PCs and PDAs give the user the opportunity toview the programming guide on a second screen, eliminating the problemsassociated with displaying an EPG and programs on the same screen.

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for displaying an EPG on a display otherthan the primary display according to one embodiment. Entertainmentsystem 100 is an exemplary entertainment system which allows a user towatch television, record television programs, and perform various otherfunctions.

As shown, entertainment system 100 includes a television or other videodisplay 105, a set-top box (STB) 110, a digital or other recordingdevice 115, and a remote control device 120.

Video display 105 can be a television, plasma screen, liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) or any other device capable of interpreting and displayingsignals sent by set top box 110 (STB). STB 110 receives and descramblescable television and other signals, allows for interaction with theviewer, and transmits the resulting signals to video display 105.Recording device 115 may be any one of or a combination of any one of anumber of devices including video cassette recorders (VCRs), harddrives, digital versatile disc-random access memory (DVD-RAM) recorders,etc. Video display 105, STB 110 and recording device 115 may also becombined in any fashion.

Set top box (STB) 110 can receive signals from network 125 throughnetwork connection 130. It can also receive information from link 130 ato video display 105 and recording device 115. Remote control device 120is capable of controlling the functions of the various components ofentertainment system 100 using infrared or other transmission means.

Network 125 may consist of a single network or a group of networks suchas the Internet. Network connection 130 can deliver signals to STB 110over a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), satellitebroadcast, or other data transmission means. Network connection 130 candeliver analog, digital or HDTV signals, or any combination thereof.Network connection 130 may also allow unidirectional or bi-directionalInternet access.

In one embodiment, network 125 would comprise a single high-bandwidthdigital network that allows both digital video streams and Internetaccess as well as other services to run on the same network. In anotherembodiment, the network connection 130 would comprise fiber optic cable,although it is clear that any means of connecting the network may beemployed.

Although only a single network cloud 125 is shown in FIG. 1, in otherembodiments, any number of different types information providers andnetwork connections may be utilized. For example, broadcast server 135has programs which can be viewed using entertainment system 100.Broadcast server 135 delivers information to network 125 through networklink 140, and eventually to STB 110.

Computing device 150 is coupled with network 125 through network link152. Computing device 150 may also be coupled with set top box 110 vianetwork link 154. Because set top box 110 has its own network connection130, it is also possible to forgo network connection 152 and routenetwork access for computing device 150 through set top box 110.

Computing device 150 comprises a computer 156, a display screen 158, aninput device 160, and connections 162 a and 162 b. Computer 156 may beany device, such as a Personal Computer (PC), a Personal DigitalAssistant (PDA), or a web phone, capable of processing commandsnecessary to display output on display screen 158. Display screen 158may be a computer monitor or an LCD screen, or any other device capableof displaying the output of computer 156.

Input device 160 may be a keyboard, mouse, joystick, writing tablet, orany other means of inputting data into computer 156. The components ofcomputer 156 communicate with each other through connections 162 a and162 b, although any number of additional connections may be added foradditional peripherals and for additional connections between thealready enumerated components.

As shown in FIG. 1, computing device 150 is simplified for purposes ofexplanation. Any number of additional components may be added tocomputing device 150 beyond those necessary for use with the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, it is possible for several people to watchprogramming on video display 105 while one or more other persons usescomputing device 150 to view an EPG on display screen 158. As a result,the programming displayed on video display 105 is undisturbed, and thoseperusing an EPG using computing device 150 can do so at their leisure.Also, because the EPG is shown on computing device 150, it is moreeasily customized and can be seen more clearly.

Input device 160 can be used to select programs to be watched on videodisplay 105, or to otherwise browse through the EPG. In addition, acable television provider sending programming to set top box 110 mayhave preset selections to send to computing device 150. A user may alsouse input device 160 to make viewing selections, preprogram remindersfor viewing selections, program recording events, or perform any otherfunction typical of Electronic Programming Guides (EPGs).

Recording device 115 can also be configured through the EPG to startrecording slightly before a program is scheduled to begin and to endrecording slightly after a program is scheduled to end in order tocompensate for scheduling inaccuracies. A server, such as broadcastserver 135 may also control these functions.

STB 110 may also provide for interactive functions such as onlineshopping, contests, games, chat, etc. Either input device 160 or remotecontrol device 120 can be used to create input for the interactivefunctions of STB 110.

A user of the EPG displayed on computing device 105 may also, throughinput device 160, display portions of or the entire EPG on video display105. This way, it is possible that a user may share programminginformation with all viewers, and thus the invention retains all of thebenefits of previous EPGs displayed on a television. This also allowsthose who have poor vision, or are otherwise unable to use displayscreen 158, to use the EPG.

In another embodiment, an EPG could be displayed on a portable computingdevice. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary entertainment system with an EPGdisplayed on a wireless computing device.

Set top box (STB) 205 has an integrated antenna 210, which transmits RFwaves 215. RF waves 215 can be received by hand held unit 220 throughantenna 225. Hand held unit 220, could, for example, be a personaldigital assistant (PDA). Hand held unit 220 could be equipped with awireless interface such as Bluetooth™ to communicate with STB 205.

A wireless hand held device, such as hand held unit 220 allows for agreat deal of flexibility. A user may move about the room which containsvideo display 105 and be able to control the functions of the EPG fromany point. When using a wireless hand held device to control the EPG,the device may also assume the functions of remote control device 120.

FIG. 2 also shows a satellite receiver 235 connected with network 125through network connection 240. Satellite receiver 235 can receivesatellite signals, in addition to those already transmitted through thenetwork from, e.g., broadcast server 135. Any one of a number of methodsof transmitting signals to STB 205 may be employed.

FIG. 3 illustrates an entertainment system coupled with a number ofwireless hand-held devices. Similar to hand held unit 220, hand heldunits 310 a-n can display an EPG for entertainment system 100 on theirscreens. However, hand-held units 310 a-n are capable of communicatingeither with STB 205 through antennae 311 a-n or with STB 205 throughnetwork 125. Hand held devices 310 a-n may communicate with network 125through any number of means, including but not limited to cellular, PCM,satellite, Blue-Tooth™, etc.

A television viewer may often wish to converse with others about whichtelevision program to watch. The suggested wireless connection allowsall users to view the same EPG. Additionally, the connection maytransmit each user's comments or changes to all other users. In oneembodiment, because hand held devices 310 a-n may connect with STB 205through network 125, a user may program the EPG when they are away fromhome, and thus a number of users in a number of locations may view andprogram the same EPG.

After programming in their selections, and making changes to an EPG, auser's programming selections can be stored on the remote broadcastserver 135, and can be downloaded through network 125 to a hand heldunit 310 a-n. A user can then control the functions of a set top box ata location other than home, such as a friend's house or a hotel. A usermay make personalize his EPG, and recording device 115 can even continueto record programs while the user is away from home.

Recordings made by recording device 115 can be sourced out to a spindlefarm, a DVD-RAM jukebox or any other massive storage medium. Recordingscan be made and organized using the EPG provided to the STB 205. Suchmethods should be able to store massive amounts of data and asignificant amount of video.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method and apparatus for indicating to a user thatan interactive service is available. Remote control device 400 comprisesantenna 405, display 410, and input-output (I/O) buttons 415.

Remote control device 400 uses antenna 405 to communicate with STB 210.Antenna 405 may be configured to communicate using radio-frequency (RF)waves, infrared waves, Bluetooth™, or any other means of wirelesscommunication.

Display 410 may be used to alert a user of an interactive function.Display 410 may be, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) with acolored backlight. When an interactive function begins, the backlightmay either flash or change colors to alert the user to the possibilityof interactive function. Further, display 410 may display several linesof text to inform the user of the nature of the interactive function.The user may then use buttons 415 to participate in the interactivefunction.

Additionally, or in lieu of display 410, one or more of buttons 415 mayflash or change colors to alert a user of an interactive function.Button 420 is surrounded by a halo to signify that it is lit, and thatan interactive function is available. It is also possible to incorporatesome sort of audio tone or sound clip through a speaker (not shown) toact as a supplement or as a replacement for the methods described above.

When a provider wants to make an interactive application available, itsends a signal across network 125 to STB 210. STB 210 may then transmitthe signal to remote control device 400 through antenna 405. When remotecontrol device 400 receives the signal, it may alert the user asexplained above.

Additionally, the alert to the interactive functions may besimultaneously sent to both the video display 105 and the remote controldevice 400. A user may configure the remote control device 400 such thatthey may either activate or deactivate the notice displayed on videodisplay 105. Thus, the invention does not lose any of the functionalityof previous methods of alerting a user of the possibility of aninteractive function.

The system and method described herein may be stored in the memory of acomputer system (i.e., a set-top box) as a set of instructions to beexecuted. In addition, the instructions to perform the system and methoddescribed herein may alternatively be stored on other forms ofmachine-readable media, including magnetic and optical disks. Forexample, the system and method of the present invention may be stored onmachine-readable media, such as magnetic disks or optical disks, whichare accessible via a disk drive (or computer-readable medium drive).Further, the instructions may be downloaded into a computing device overa data network in the form of a compiled and linked version.

Alternatively, the logic to perform the system and method describedherein may be implemented in additional computer and/or machine-readablemedia such as discrete hardware components as large-scale integratedcircuits (LSIs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs),firmware such as electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(EEPROMs), and electrical, optical, acoustical, and other forms ofpropagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digitalsignals, etc.).

Although the foregoing description and accompanying figures discuss andillustrate specific embodiments, it should be appreciated that thepresent invention is to be measured only in terms of the claims thatfollow.

1. An apparatus comprising: a display device; a processor; and memoryoperatively coupled to the processor and storing computer readableinstructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to: receive asignal from a control unit indicating a beginning of an interactiveapplication during display of a selected video content program on adisplay separate from the apparatus; and in response to the receivedsignal, provide a visual indication of an availability of theinteractive application through the display device, receive user inputcorresponding to a request to deactivate visual indications on thedisplay separate from the apparatus; and selectively deactivate thevisual indications on the display separate from the apparatusindependently of whether the visual indications are displayed on thedisplay device of the apparatus.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinproviding the visual indication of the availability of the interactiveapplication includes displaying an indicator on the display device ofthe apparatus.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein providing the visualindication of the availability of the interactive application includeschanging one or more background colors of the display device of theapparatus.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein providing the visualindication of the availability of the interactive application includesflashing at least one button of the apparatus.
 5. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a mobile handheld device. 6.The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the mobile handheld device is a webphone.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer readableinstructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to provide anadditional indication of the availability of the interactive applicationincluding a sound generated by the apparatus.
 8. The apparatus of claim1, wherein providing the visual indication of the availability of theinteractive application includes illuminating a portion of the apparatusother than the display device of the apparatus.
 9. A method comprising:receiving, by a mobile device, a signal from a control unit indicating abeginning of an interactive application during display of a selectedvideo content program on a display separate from the mobile device; andin response to the received signal, providing a visual indication of anavailability of the interactive application through a display of themobile device; receiving user input corresponding to a request todeactivate visual indications on the display separate from the mobiledevice; and selectively deactivating the visual indications on thedisplay separate from the mobile device independently of whether visualindications are displayed on the display of the mobile device.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising receiving user interaction at themobile device, the interaction including user comments.
 11. The methodof claim 9, wherein the signal is received after a start of the selectedvideo content program.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein theinteractive application is not available prior to a beginning of theselected video content program.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein themobile device comprises a remote control associated with the separatedisplay.
 14. An apparatus comprising: at least one input device; adisplay; a processor; and memory operatively coupled to the processorand storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, causethe apparatus to: receive user input through the at least one inputdevice, the user input corresponding to a request to deactivate visualindications on a display separate from the apparatus, wherein the visualindications indicate an availability of an interactive applicationduring display of a video content program; and selectively deactivatethe visual indications on the display separate from the apparatusindependently of whether the visual indications are displayed on thedisplay of the apparatus.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, whereinproviding the visual indication of the availability of the interactiveapplication includes displaying an indicator on the display of theapparatus.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein providing the visualindication of the availability of the interactive application includeschanging one or more background colors of the display of the apparatus.17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein providing the visual indicationof the availability of the interactive application includes flashing atleast one button of the apparatus.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14,wherein the user input is received after a start of the video contentprogram.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the interactiveapplication is not available prior to a beginning of the video contentprogram.
 20. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a mobiledevice.